Arts & Life

ARTS EDITOR AMICHAI ABRAHAM arts@thecord.ca LIFESTYLE EDITOR CRYSTAL XUE lifestyle@thecord.ca

Frightening films for this sinister season

JACK O’KEEFFE

ARTS CONTRIBUTOR

The transient days, shadowed by the expansive nights, the decaying foliage and, most notably, the plunging temperatures all signal the approach of Halloween - undoubtedly the scariest time of the year. To accelerate the switch from your frightening midterms to the somehow less frightening advance of Halloween, below are my picks for the most terrifying, spine-chilling films I’ve seen within recent years.

The Vanishing (1988):

What I would call ‘the perfect thriller,’ a combination of horror, psychosis, and adrenaline, is fueled by the eminent ghoul of tragedy. Rex Hoffman accompanies Saskia, his girlfriend, on a trip across France. When they stop at a gas station to refuel their car, lodged halfway through a tunnel, Saskia goes missing. What ensues is the most horrifyingly procedural demonstration of the duality of man when faced with the recognition of his own free will. The film, only running in at 107 minutes, was heralded by legendary director Stanley Kubrick as “the most terrifying film he had ever seen” and contains, what I would declare, one of the greatest endings in all of cinematic history.

Make sure to view the 1988 version of The Vanishing, not the 1993 remake which ruins the perfect ending.

Spook Score: 8/10

Funny Games (1997):

Often regarded as director Michael Haneke’s magnum opus, the 1997 version of Funny Games isn’t too funny. When Georg, Anna, and their son venture to their vacation home, two unexpected visitors, only looking for four eggs, end up causing a physical strain unforeseen on this ill-fated family. Haneke’s nihilistic view of hope and optimism provides a dark yet novel watch.

Spook Score: 7/10

Possession (1981):

Polish director Andrzej Żuławski created possibly the strangest marital relationship ever situated on screen. After Helen reveals to her husband, Mark, that she is cheating on him, she disappears into secrecy. Mark hires a private investigator to probe into her actions. What he finds marks this grimy search for love as one of the most disturbing yet utterly intriguing films on this list.

Spook Score: 9/10

Suspiria (1977):

Dario Argento’s most mainstream entry into the Giallo film genre is a plethora of neon lights and pleasing palettes. The seemingly cheap and campy production of this ballerina-horror flick is known for accelerating the adoption of neon-lighting in Hollywood and revolutionizing the scores of films, with the Italian progrock band Goblin’s unforgettable soundtrack. Is it very scary? Not really, but it’s a horror film whose influence has spanned decades and, at moments, is laughable in its narrative techniques.

Spook Score: 5/10

Eraserhead (1977):

As the master of surrealism, David Lynch’s first feature length film – and “most spiritual” - is always worth a watch, creating its chilling dystopian environment with the aid of Alan Splet’s haunting ambient soundtrack. The film, produced on a measly $10,000 by the thirty-year-old painter, is backed by some to be an overdramatized autobiographical look into the mind of Lynch. The haunting absurdity of Jack Nance’s portrayal of Henry Spencer, the father plagued with the premature birth of his defect child, whose crying slowly descends him into a surreal nightmare accompanied by the woman inhabiting his radiator, is widely regarded as a horror classic 45 years later.

Spook Score: 8/10

Climax (2018):

Like any film by Argentine filmmaker Gaspar Noé, this recommendation is accompanied by my strong content warning. When a select group of street dancers gather in a warehouse for an endof-season party, surrounded by the chilling, snow-laden landscapes of France, all goes to hell as they discover their sangria has been laced with LSD. A disturbing whodunnit mystery ensues along the lines of Noé’s experimental style of epileptic lighting and intense camera sequences. This electrifyingly experimental take on psychological horror will have the viewer watching between their fingers.

Spook Score: 10/10

Each of these films, selected with care from a list I aggregated, wishing I could include all of them, are each, in their own way, scary, disturbing, and blend creative cinematography with narratives that are sure to keep you up at night.

ABIGAIL HECKBERT/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY

CLIMATE JUSTICE

Ghouls, goblins and climate change

KAYANNA THOMPSON ARTS CONTRIBUTOR

October ushers in crisp autumn air, lingering with scents of pumpkin spiced lattes and freshly baked Pillsbury Halloween cookies. But it also raises some concerns about an eminently developing nightmare: climate change.

Few have considered the rippling effects of this ghoulish season. Many of us are eager to purchase a new Halloween costume this year. It’s rare for most of us to reuse our Halloween costumes from last year, and it’s even rarer that these costumes become part of our daily wardrobe.

We typically turn to quick and cheap options when purchasing a Halloween costume, but at what cost?

Issues concerning climate change continue to reach frightening heights. In fact, recent reports display alarming developments within North America. Strikingly, they suggest an increased risk of droughts of fresh-water, hurricanes and wildfires. Fast fashion retailers are a significant factor in climate change; and what many are prone to in search of affordable Halloween costumes.

Fast fashion is the designing and marketing of inexpensive yet trendy clothing. It’s certainly a bewitching option for students working with a tight budget around this time of year. However, the consequences of fast fashion are far more chilling than any costume you may run into.

This industry alone emits approximately five per cent of the total global carbon emissions, a considerable element in climate change as it absorbs and radiates heat.

Halloween has begun to appear all the more sinister. Don’t worry, there’s no need to hide beneath the covers; we’ve got you covered with our guide to creating a sustainable Halloween costume!

1. Raid your Closet

A shift of perspective, and you’ll be surprised with what you discover in your closet. Start with a few costumes in mind to help broaden your search. Experiment with styling techniques like layering and upcycling by reworking the clothes you never thought you’d wear again. Of course, all of this with the assistance of a TikTok video.

2. Trade Costumes

A lot of the excitement during Halloween is the chance to try new and daring looks. Get together with friends, try on and trade each other’s costumes from previous years, and get ready to strut down that imaginary runway. Don’t get discouraged if you’re not too keen on the entire look. You might just find the perfect accessory or prop to go with your new costume.

3. Go Thrifting

Kitchener-Waterloo offers plenty of thrift stores with student-friendly prices. Find the perfect piece for your Halloween costume by exploring second-hand stores like Thrift on Kent, Value Village, and Talize.

4. DIY Your Costume with Recyclable Items

This one is intimidating. Rest assured, all will run smoothly, assuming you can work a glue gun. Hunt for simple online tutorials and unleash your creativity as you think outside the box.

SADIYA TEEPLE/PHOTOGRAPHY

How to do Halloween right in Waterloo

EMILY ANDERSON

LIFESTYLE CONTRIBUTOR

It’s officially Spooky Season! Time to prepare yourself for the cool weather and the bone-chilling events happening in Waterloo region this month. Kitchener-Waterloo region is making the best of fall, and you should too! Allow time in your schedule to experience the following Spooky Season activities.

The smell of apple pie in the oven while studying is a must. Kick off your fall season with apple picking at Downey’s Apple Farm in Breslau. Downey’s offers apple picking, a corn maze and tractor rides daily from 9:30am-5:30pm.

What is Spooky Season if you don’t carve a pumpkin? Waterloo region has many pumpkin farms waiting for you to come to pick your favourite from the patch; check out Benjamin Tree Farm, Fall Harvest Farm, or Stroms Farm!

Oktober Fest has returned to Waterloo region this year! Check out downtown Kitchener on October 6-9 to experience the streets turn into a Bavarian Village with vendors, food entertainment and drinks.

With Thanksgiving in mind, take some extra time to give back to your community. Participate in the Halloween Fun Run in Kitchener in support of the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region on Oct. 15 at 11:00am. You can participate in this event by walking or running the five-kilometer route and by raising donations for sexual assault awareness.

After your race, head to Homer Watson Museum between 4pm10pm where you’ll feel a chill down your spine as you discover your fate by psychic, card or medium reading!

After you’ve set the mood with these daytime activities, Snyder’s Farm is host to some spooktacular night-time events, ongoing throughout October. Snyder’s has six different terrifying outdoor haunts that make up Fear Farm Haunted House: a hay bale ride, “The Hiller House”, “The Stalking Dead”, “Hillbilly Hike”, “Carnevil” and “The Visitors”. Snyder’s also offers a campfire package that includes a s’mores kit, a pre-lit fire, chairs for 2-14 guests, and food or beverages from “The Sweet & Spirits Bar”. What better way to spend a fall night with friends than at a private campfire?

On Oct. 15, St. Jacobs Village has arranged a free pumpkin pick-up! You must bring your pumpkin home to carve and return it as a jack-o-lantern on October 28-29 from 6pm-8pm to be displayed at their Halloween market. At the return of the jack-o-lanterns, wear your Halloween costume and check out the lit-up pumpkins and evening shopping at St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market!

If that doesn’t sound spooky enough for you, Bingemans in Kitchener will knock your socks off at Scream Park Haunted House, running October 7-9, 13-16, 20-23 and 27-30. Scream Park has six horrifying attractions: “The Lot”, “Soulless Swamp”, “Devil’s Hallows”, “The Slaughter Sled”, “Cannibal Carnival” and “The Blood Bar”.

End your spooky season right by attending the Night of the Living Halloween Party at the Kitchener market on Oct. 29 from 7pm-10pm! Offering vendors, appetizers, a photo booth, and more. At dusk, the market is devoured by the dancefloor and DJ! 19+ event only.

For more information, check out the event websites.

While October may be the month that school picks up speed, don’t be afraid to do spooky season the right way by letting yourself enjoy the fall entertainment, vendors, apple pie and screams of terror!

SADIYA TEEPLE/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY

TELEVISION

Monster isn’t just another crime show

CRYSTAL XUE

LIFESTYLE EDITOR

In a world where a serial killer is more well-known than the 17 boys and men whom he dismembered, cannibalized and used to fulfill his necrophilic desires, it’s understandable that there’d be backlash from the victims’ families over Netflix’s decision to release a series about the murders.

Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is a new Netflix series about American serial killer and child molester Jeffrey Dahmer, who committed his murders between 1978 and 1991.

It’s the latest of many movies and shows that major production companies have created about Dahmer. Since 1992, there have been at least 20 Dahmer projects- more than the 12 Batman movies and shows that have been produced in the same amount of time.

In its first full week, Monster drew 196.2 million viewing hours and is currently the top TV show on Netflix in over 60 countries. In a way, the series’ popularity is unsurprising; as much as society loves our heroes, we’re equally- if not more- fascinated by our real-life villains.

Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, the series stars Evan Peters as Dahmer, alongside other famous actors such as Richard Jenkins and Molly Ringwald. The ten episodes explore Dahmer’s personal life and the murders he committed.

Monster also offers insight into Dahmer’s victims in a way that other movies and shows on the topic haven’t In a particularly harrowing episode, we’re introduced to Tony Hughes, a deaf and mute man portrayed by Rodney Burford. The episode brings us through Hughes’ brief life before he was murdered by Dahmer at 31.

We learn about Hughes’ upbringing, close family relationships and dreams of modelling, which he moved to Wisconsin to pursue while attending college. The episode shows his life for what it was; rich and worthwhile not because of Dahmer, but in spite of him.

By delving into the lives of some of Dahmer’s victims, Monster brings home the extent of his cruelty. Instead of wondering who Dahmer might’ve been if he had had a better home life, friends, or psychiatric help, viewers are prompted to wonder who each of the 17 boys and men he murdered might’ve been if their body parts hadn’t ended up dissolved in acid in his apartment.

That said, Monster doesn’t shy away from the classic question of nature versus nurture. It asks viewers whether Dahmer’s environment was a deciding factor in his crimes, or if it was merely a backdrop for him to become who he was all along.

The series offers background on his mentally unwell mother, who abused prescription pills during pregnancy. It also shows Dahmer’s attempts to share his dark thoughts with his father, who promptly dismisses them.

Of course, that’s no justification to murder anyone, let alone dismember or cannibalize 17 boys and men and sleep with their corpses. Plenty of people have had similar or worse upbringings without becoming serial killers. Monster shows the well-intentioned actions of Dahmer’s father, who encouraged his taxidermy hobby and saw it as an innocent love for science. His love for his son is undeniable in the series, as he repeatedly tries to nudge Dahmer in any direction other than the one he ended up taking.

Monster is a gripping series that shows Dahmer’s progression from an alcoholic, sexually-repressed high school outcast to one of the world’s most notorious serial killers.

It examines the social structures and police incompetency that allowed his crimes to continue. It re-emphasizes the evil that exists in some people- an evil of which we’ve heard over and over, yet continue to be engrossed by.

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

House of the Dragon dazzles old GoT fans

BRONTE BEHLING MANAGING EDITOR

Game of Thrones fans around the globe held their breath as the premiere of the new series set in George R. R. Martin’s iconic universe took flight on Aug. 21 of this year.

With an 8.7/10 on IMDb and an 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes, it is clear that the show has made a profound impact on its audience. However, what makes House of the Dragon so great?

After the internet dumpster fire that the end of Game of Thrones left, can House of the Dragon live up to the massive expectations of its fans?

Of course not. However, it can expand the Game of Thrones universe in a way that Game of Thrones could not - with more creative license and interpretation available, it can grow from its source text without the same resistance Game of Thrones faced.

Based on a history book called Fire & Blood, House of the Dragon takes place 200 years prior to the events of the A Song of Ice and Fire series.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

With a primary focus on the Targaryen family, the show features a consistent focus on a smaller central group of characters.

Conversely, the Game of Thrones series focused on members of multiple families in Westeros - leading to some getting more screen time than others.

By following the Targaryens, the episodes available of House of the Dragon feel like more of a coherent unit - while the series features time skips, the focus on one key family makes it easy for viewers to “catch up” with the years lost in between.

After episode 5 , the series will feature new, older actresses in the central roles of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower. By recasting these roles, the story will continue to move at a rapid pace that is sure to keep viewers fixated on the continual strain placed on the show’s central family.

Alongside a riveting plot, House of the Dragon also features masterful cinematography, acting and costumes.

Each actor is clearly passionate about their role - helping the script and world come alive alongside calculated cinematography that fluctuates from sweeping halls to claustrophobic chambers.

In addition, the costumes for each character assist greatly in asserting their rank as well as their personality - members of the Targaryen family frequently clad in red to symbolize their power and connection to their dragons.

Of course, the dragons featured on the show are another large pull for audiences - while Game of Thrones also had dragons, they did not feature as prominently as the ones shown on House of the Dragon.

This fact was a pull to the show for many former Game of Thrones fans, making them curious to see how the creative team behind the Game of Thrones prequel would show the connection between the Targaryen family and their dragons - Daenerys Targaryen being the only central example prior to this.

Excited about the upcoming episodes of House of the Dragon? Wishing to give the show a try? New episodes release on Sundays and can be viewed on HBO max.

ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT

Anthony Potero: the remaining YouTuber

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

AMICHAI ABRAHAM

ARTS EDITOR

YouTube is pretty big these days, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There’s a channel for every niche, uncommon interest, and preference for entertainment anyone could ever want.

Rarely seen anymore, however, are channels that capture the true spirit of YouTube.

Back in the day, creators had little more than a camera and some buddies, and while some of the content may not have aged well, the free-range creative attitude is timeless.

There’s something to be said for these videos’ simplicity; with simple concepts come surprising and memorable results.

While this form of video-making has largely died out, there’s one channel that not only exhibits this same attitude but has modified it for a contemporary audience.

Anthony Potero (his channel’s name is Anthpo) isn’t a YouTuber who was posting in those early days of YouTube, though I suspect he draws a lot of influence from that time period . He began posting videos in early 2019 at his high school. It was these formative videos that would become the most viral on his channel.

His most popular video, netting him an impressive view count of just below fifteen million views (currently), is titled ‘Disturbing Students as Perry the Platypus.’ He spends the three-minute video running around his high school in a Perry the Platypus onesie goofing around with his classmates.

His next most popular video is (in a similar vein) titled ‘Harassing people with fat yoshi’ in which he hangs up and hands out pictures of… fat Yoshi.

Perhaps the most important things these videos accomplish for Anthpo’s channel is establishing Anthony’s personality and sense of humor. Anthony is established as someone who both isn’t afraid to put himself out there, nor someone who takes himself too seriously.

He also has a distinctive Gen Z sense of humor through his use of pop culture references that appeal to a Gen Z demographic (in the aforementioned videos; Phineas and Ferb, video games, and memes).

Most YouTubers who have surprise hits fail to capitalize on them and turn those viewers into subscribers.

Whether he was trying to or not, Anthpo did this by taking the biggest risk possible.

He made several more videos in a similar style, running amuck at his high school.

But by the time he began attending college, Anthpo took his content in a wildly different direction.

He continued dressing up and goofing around on his college campus, but he also began making other types of videos. He began making commentary videos before a green screen, giving comedic takes on various topics.

Notably, he also used his green screen to make short parodies of popular Gen Z properties like Avatar the Last Airbender, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, iCarly, Attack on Titan, and many more. Anthony himself often played all of the different characters in these parodies, but in others, he began incorporating more of his friends into the skits. Eventually, it would be not only Anthony but his College buddies that began to define the channel.

Anthony began using the college setting to his advantage by incorporating his friends and their personalities into his videos. He is very talented in thinking up fun concepts for videos and implementing them seamlessly.

Usually, the results are pretty funny, and I think this is largely due to the chemistry Anthony and his friends share on-screen. Often his silly videos have some genuinely organic, heartfelt moments rarely seen elsewhere on YouTube.

Also, it’s important to draw attention to the impressive editing that has been steadily improving throughout Anthony’s journey. It really gives the videos a seamless flow and often manages to make a funny moment even funnier.

Overall, I think Anthpo is one of the best channels on YouTube right now. His recipe of taking something old, something new, and mixing some personality in there for flavour has yielded some of the best feel-good content I have ever seen.

Nobody really knows what Anthony is going to move on to once his time at college is over.

If there is one thing that’s certain, it is that if Anthpo decides to continue making videos, it will continue to be must-watch content.

Editorial

Editors Note:

YASMEEN ALMOMANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

If you’re not already tired of reading stories about Halloween from our Arts and Life section; here’s another one. ere’s a hard line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation, and we should always be mindful before we cross this sensitive topic.

Dressing up as any culture, ethnicity, religion, or identify is so beyond o ensive and I cannot fathom how it was ever okay for grown people to throw on cultural clothing or paint their skin another colour and go to Halloween parties where they would be praised for said costume.

Considerering the history that Canadians have with Indigenous Peoples, it is unacceptable to dress up as “native person” (a Halloween costume I have literally seen online with that exact title).

And considering historial oppression and how blackface was used in the past (which you can just look up without me explaining it in the few words of my Editor’s Note), it is also completely unacceptable to paint your face Black and cosplay as another race for Halloween (or during any time at all). is is not exactly a hot take; people have become much more aware and cognizant of cultural appropriation over the last decade and how harmful it is to portray someone’s identity as a costume or as cosplay.

Dressing up for Halloween is fun and creative, you can choose between a wide variety of things to portray, ranging from scary creatures, cartoon characters, TV show characters, or even public celebrity gures.

You can also dress up as a character who belongs to a race di erent than yours, as long as you are not appropriating their racial identity. ese things are nuanced but easy to grasp with a quick Google search to compare a Halloween costume that’s o ensive, and one that’s light and fun.

It’s hard sometimes to imagine the damage that something like this can cause, but if you think about how important representation is, the same kind og logic applies - seeing yourself representated as a costume and as a joke cannot feel good.

Having fun at the cost of someone else’s well-being and livelihood is not having fun anymore, it’s just being hurtful.

Identity is vital to who we are and turning that into a joke or a costume is not okay. is is your friendly PSA to call out cultural appropriation this when you see it this season. I think learning and growing is important for our community so telling your friends when they’re being harmful is not a wrong thing.

Just a small thought that I was having as Halloween creeps up on us this season.

Otherwise, be safe and respectful, and have fun this season, Golden Hawks!

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Staying inside with movies during spooky season

AMICHAI ABRAHAM

ARTS EDITOR

Growing up Jewish and living a relatively sheltered life, Halloween never meant much to me. Some of the non-religious kids at Jewish school (aka heathens) would talk about going trick-or-treating, dressing up in cool costumes, and eating unkosher candy (as I said, they were heathens).

I ignored all of this and stayed excited for Purim in March. Like Halloween, during this Jewish holiday, everyone dresses up in costumes and goes to synagogue to hear the reading of the megillah of Esther. ere’s usually a carnival, everyone sends each other gift baskets, there’s a tradition of getting drunk, overall it’s a very fun holiday. I never really experienced Halloween until I came to university.

Since Purim isn’t quite as popular in Waterloo, I’ve tried to embrace Halloween a little more.

I do this mostly through my lm choices, but I occasionally venture onto the ominous streets surrounding Wilfrid Laurier, surrounded by the most terrifying ends of all… inebriated university students (*cue thunder*).

Many people party on Halloween, which, while valid, also involves being social and meeting new people, so for myself and my fellow introverts, it’s unacceptable.

Still, if you want to go out and be around people outside of a party setting, I recommend catching a Rocky Horror Picture Show screening over at the Princess Cinema. If you’ve never been to one, you’re really missing out, everyone is dressed up like a weirdo and acts like a weirdo, so you really don’t have to be self-conscious if… you’re a weirdo.

Last year was my rst time attending; watching the movie with and without an audience is like watching two completely di erent movies. What really caught me o guard was how playful, but also aggressive the lmgoers could be. I’d describe it as the two minutes of hate from the book 1984 if the thing being yelled at were a queer horror-musical lm from the mid70s.

If you’d rather get into the spooky spirit while staying at home, I have some horror movie suggestions for you. If you’re looking for a classic campy Halloween lm, might I suggest Creepshow (1982). is horror anthology has several horror short lms within them.

While none are particularly horrifying, they really have a Halloweenie vibe perfect for this October. While I know it got plenty of critical acclaims, you should really see Hereditary (2018) if you haven’t already. A truly scary lm full of great performances, interesting concepts, and some magni cent gore.

If you’re looking for an overthe-top psychedelic horror lm (and why wouldn’t you be?) I would suggest Mandy (2018). I’d imagine that watching the lm is similar to being on a bad acid trip as you watch Nicolas Cage get into chainsaw sword ghts with bizarre demons in a strange and colourful setting.

As one nal recommendation, for those who want to become more cultured with their horror selections, might I suggest Ringu (1998). e original lm that would spawn the more well-known American remake, e Ring (2002), sometimes you just can’t beat the original. Ringu is one movie so scary that it’ll be sure to have you crawling away from your TV.

While I do miss Purim back at home, I still enjoy Halloween in Waterloo with the company of some of my favorite horror movies. e 31st of October is right around the corner to remember; be scared or be square.

Opinion OPINION EDITOR VACANT opinion@thecord.ca

Diversity in the LOTR: Rings of Power

NATASHA SHANTZ OPINION INTERN

Prime Video’s new series, e Lord of the Rings: e Rings of Power has sent many fans into a racist backlash frenzy over the series’ casting of several Black characters.

While the show’s diverse representation has indeed made headlines and red up new interest in JRR Tolkien’s universe of noble quests, evil powers and magical elven kingdoms, it has also incited the fury of certain longtime fans, who expect only white characters to be front and center.

Let’s unpack why the on-screen depiction of Black elves and hobbits has become the most recent (and irrational) pop culture controversy. e Lord of the Rings universe was created by author JRR Tolkien, an academic writer in mid-1900s England. e series was written during the Second World War, with Tolkien drawing from the war’s horri c events. His books have since become some of the most beloved classics in the world, establishing the development of the fantasy genre in the following subsequent decades.

As one would, Tolkien wrote the characters based on his own understanding of the world; namely, the Western European middle-class experience of a heterosexual man. Obviously, most of the characters in his books are going to be as white as one can be. e producers of e Lord of the Rings (LOTR) lm trilogy, made in the early 2000s, depicted the characters as exactly how they were written. I’ve adored the storytelling and the morals behind these lms since I was a kid, but as a white person, I’ve had the privilege to not think twice about their lack of representation.

However, the individuals behind e Rings of Power have luckily moved into the 21st century. A signi cant number of the leads, including an elf, a dwarf, several harfoots (ancestors to the hobbits) and many human characters are people of colour. Certain Tolkien purists have lashed out in response, making claims that casting non-white actors is somehow disloyal to Tolkien’s writings.

Many of the superfans have also done a deep dive into Tolkien mythology, demonstrating that e Lord of the Rings universe and its environmental conditions literally do not allow for darker skin.

While this piece of research may in fact be true, I beg the question: is the strict maintenance of integrity to a ctional story really worth more than basic equality in the media industry? e show’s producers obviously aren’t attempting to pledge absolute loyalty to the LOTR mythology, and I applaud them for their creativity and willingness to progress such a beautiful universe into something more inclusive. By including people of colour in major roles usually taken by white individuals, the creators are taking a major step towards fuller representation in lm and television.

And what are e Lord of the Rings “fans” doing in the meantime? Having an internet debate over the races of ctional elves and dwarves, I suppose. at speaks for itself. I emphasize the word “ ctional” again for everyone’s sake.

Indeed, this is racism, at its most illogical. Not only are these debates useless, but they also undermine the identities and hard work of the POC actors involved in e Rings of Power. e controversy over the series’ newly multicultural world is even more unreasonable when you bear in mind how diversity has been present in e Lord of the Rings since the beginning.

Species of humans, elves, dwarves and even orcs all exist in this ctional universe, sometimes clashing, sometimes forming alliances. JRR Tolkien literally created a multicultural society in LOTR, re ective of humankind itself.

I don’t think he would be too upset about its most recent developments. e cast and creators of e Rings of Power put it best when they wrote, “fantasy has never been all white.”. In ction, anything goes.

Such representation broadens the appeal of Tolkien’s magical universe for many who may not have felt connected to it before. We create fantasy stories to expand our imaginations and to form re ections of ourselves in a hopeful reality, not to stay oppressed by dominant, racist narratives. e Rings of Power is one such marker for signi cant change in the white-dominated fantasy television industry. e series’ goal was never to be expected or traditional.

It wants to be revolutionary.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Monster fails to capture Dahmer’s crimes

KAYANNA THOMPSON OPINION CONTRIBUTOR

e romanticization of Je rey Dahmer in Net ix’s new series Monster: e Je rey Dahmer Story has been in mass circulation on the internet for the past two weeks. Whether it was my for you page on TikTok, Instagram or Twitter feed, the series almost felt inescapable.

In anticipation of an outstanding performance after discovering Emmy award winner and heartthrob Evan Peters was to play the role of Dahmer, I nally caved in and watched the rst episode. As expected, Peters did an excellent job and, in actuality, maybe too much of a good job.

Although a self-proclaimed horror fan, the show was far more unnerving than most lms I’ve seen. I summed this up to the knowledge that most of the depicted events have actually occurred. Yet, despite the inner con ict within my mind, I sought to know more with little to no hesitation to begin the next episode.

In the face of disgust, I was indeed engaged. Flattering shots of Peters made it slightly more stomachable in contrast to the more gruesome scenes. My inner con ict consistently rose as scenes only seemed to get more morbid with each episode. But still, like many other views, I couldn’t turn it o .

So why was it that Net ix was able to break records, with 196.2 million hours of streaming of the series within ve days? While I tried to rationalise this casual viewership of gruesome violence, philosopher Edmund Burke’s notions of the sublime quickly came to mind. e sublime combines strong, complex feelings, from happiness and excitement to feelings of fear and terror, working as a balancing act. It produces adrenaline without putting ourselves in danger, enabling us to identify pleasure and beauty.

Without spoiling too much, the series certainly evokes these feelings. It takes its viewers through periods of justice and malevolence. It probably doesn’t help that Peters’ body is in impressive shape. In fact, due to the nature of some scenes, the show is ooded with aesthetically pleasing montages of him. It was no longer a depiction of the events but instead an idealised version of them. e series felt meticulously composed

ABIGAIL HECKBERT/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY